Survey sees common ground differences

This past winter, students from Eastern Washington University assisted the Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) with a countywide strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) survey. The students analyzed the survey results, reported their findings and pointed out a couple of holes in our survey coverage (one being a shortage of input from our youth).

The EDC went back out and gathered the missing data. A second team of students, this time from Gonzaga University, agreed to incorporate the new survey responses into the original responses and re-evaluate the results.

When evaluating the results, two research questions were applied: What do the different population groups and residents of Lincoln County believe are their main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats? Is there a statistical difference between each of these beliefs? The EDC recently received the final analysis.

Regarding the county's strengths, examination of the SWOT survey results reveal that county residents identify dry land wheat production as the leading strength across all population groups.

There is a statistical tie for the second leading strength. Different population groups have selected different second strengths leading to the tie. Davenport and Wilbur clearly chose Recreation and Tourism; Almira and Odessa clearly chose “willingness to work together” and Creston, Reardan and high school students clearly selected open spaces.

Overall, the potential for value-added agricultural products came out as the leading opportunity. However, expanding wheat production was the leading opportunity for Almira and the high school students. “Business clusters” are the leading opportunity for Creston and Reardan, while Odessa has identified bio-fuels as their significant leading opportunity.

Insufficient support for local businesses and the lack of educational opportunities in or after high school are a statistical tie for the leading weakness.

Outmigration of younger people, declining population, costly government regulations and mandates required of municipalities, and governmental policies regarding agriculture are a statistical tie for the leading threats. Davenport and high school students were especially concerned about the lack of in-county education opportunities and regional water issues are considered a leading threat for Odessa.

The Gonzaga students also analyzed the county's retail sales history using the Washington State Retail Survey, 2011 Ed. and the USDA 2007 Census of Agriculture. Watch for the follow up story covering that portion of their analysis.